Feed roll mounting and lifting device



Dec. 11, 1962 G. R. SKEEN FEED ROLL MOUNTING AND LIFTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 3. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

F I G. 2

GARYRSKEEN I AT TOR N EY Dec. 11, 1962 G. R. SKEEN FEED ROLL MOUNTING AND LIFTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5. 1960 ATTOR N'EY United States Patent ()fifice 3,h67,999 Patented Dec. 11, 1962 3,0675% FEED ROLL MQUNTING AND LIFTHNG DEVEE Gary R. Sheen, Warwick, R1, assignor to Carl G. Peter- ;on (30., East Providence, 12.1., a corporation of Rhode stand Filed Oct. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 655031 8 Claims. ((11. 27l-5l) My present invention relates to roll feed mechanisms and more particularly to a novel roll feed mounting and lifting device.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a roll feed mechanism having a novel lifting device for loosening the feed roll at the end of the feed stroke.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel mounting and lifting mechanism which materially reduces the wear and simplifies the operation of the lifting mechanism on a roll feed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a roll feed mounting and lifting device which is simple in construction and easy and economical to manufacture and assemble.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following in conjunction with the accompany ing drawings and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

PEG. 1 is a perspective view of a roll feed mechanism embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 on FIG. 1.

ing the various parts of the device.

Conventional roll feed mechanisms comprise a pair of rollers mounted one above the other for feeding sheet stock to a power press or other tool. The lower roller is usually the driven roller and the upper roller is geared to the lower roller and slightly smaller than the lower roller. The usual mounting is to provide a pair of spaced rectangular blocks having an elongated vertical slot. The shafts through the rollers are provided at each end with rectangular bearing blocks which are positioned in the vertical slot in the end blocks. A heavy coil spring is mounted above the upper bearing block with an adjustable bolt bearing down on the spring to adjust the pressure between the two rollers. The spring bears down on the bearing locks vertically at the pivot point. Means must be provided for slightly lifting the upper roller at the end of the feed stroke to allow the locating pins of the tool to properly locate the stock and make the final fine adjustment before the tool strikes. Thus the upper bearing blocks at each end will slide slightly upwardly on each stroke of the press. To prevent binding the parts must be machined accurately and fit accurately. Nevertheless there is a great deal of wear on the bearing blocks and they must be replaced comparatively often.

The present invention constitutes an improvement in that the roller mounting is completely simplified to eliminate much of the wear and eliminate the need for the fine accuracy. By the construction of the present invention the spring pressure has been transmitted through a lever making it easier to adjust and cutting down the necessary tension. Also, the present invention makes it much easier and cheaper to manufacture the mounting and lifting parts.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the roll feed mechanism comprises a rectangular housing having a base (not shown), spaced vertical end blocks 10 connected by a horizontal top plate 11. The sheet stock is fed by a pair of rollers, a lower roller 12 and an upper roller 13 of slightly smaller diameter. The roller 12 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 14 and the roller 13 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 15. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the shafts 14 and 15 are much longer than the rollers 12 and 13 so that they extend from the rollers at each end. At each end, each end block it) is provided with vertically spaced openings, a lower opening 16 and an upper opening 17 of slightly smaller diameter. The block 10 is also provided with a small opening 18 on a horizontal line with the upper opening 17 and positioned approximately midway between the upper opening 17 and one side edge.

I now provide a roller bearing 19 which is adapted to fit tightly into the opening 16 and receive the end of the shaft 14 to rotatably hold the shaft in the block 10. The opening 17 is larger in diameter than the shaft 15 and when the shaft id extends into the opening 17 there is considerable space around the shaft as shown in FIG. 2. 'The ends of the shafts 14 and 15, extending through the blocks it) are connected at one end by intermeshing gears (not shown). Thus by driving the lower shaft 14 by means of a friction feed device 20, both shafts will rotate.

At each end the upper shaft 15 is provided with a roller bearing 21 inwardly of the end of the shaft. An elongated rectangular block 22 is provided with a transverse opening 23 intermediate its ends into which the bearing 21 fits. The shaft 15 extends through the bearing 21 and into the opening 17. The block 22 thus forms a pivoted lever rotatably mounted on the shaft 15. The forward end of each block 22 is bifurcated at 24, the bifurcated portions having aligned openings 25. A lever bar 26 is positioned between the bifurcated portions and is provided with an opening 27 adjacent its inner end which aligns with the openings 25. A pivot pin 28 is passed transversely through the openings 25' and 27 and into a small roller bearing 29 which is mounted tightly in the opening 18 of the block it) at each end. The upper rear edge of the block 22 is provided with a depressed portion or recess 30. As can be seen in FIG. 2 a coil spring 31 is mounted in this recess 30 and extends upwardly into a cup 32 which is adjustably mounted on a bolt 33 which extends downwardly through the top ll. Tension on the spring 31 can thus be regulated by advancing or retracting the bolt 33.

Viewing PEG. 2 it is obvious that the pivot pin 28 forms a pivot for the block 22 which is carrying the shaft 15 through the bearing 21. The pressure of the spring 31 at the opposite end of the block 22 is multiplied by the distance from the pivot pin 28 so that the block 22 forms a lever. The spring 31 thus holds the roller 13 tightly and resiliently against the lower roller 12. However, the enlarged opening 17 in the block 10 allows movement (if the shaft 15 against the action of the spring 31.

'At the front of the feed the forward ends of the bars 26 are connected by a shaft 34 which extends in spaced parallel relation to the rollers 12 and 13. Adjustably mounted on the shaft 34 is a block 35 carrying a forwardly extending bar 36 with a roller 37 mounted at its forward end. The reciprocating portion of the press is provided with a vertical cam bar 38 having a narrow thrust end 39 and a slanted cam surface 46. As can be seen in FIG. 1 the parts are positioned so that on the downward stroke the thrust end 39 slides behind the roller 37. Further downward movement will cause the cam surface 49 to engage the roller 37 and move it downwardly. Now viewing FIG. 2, downward pressure on the shaft 34 will cause a pivotal movement around the pin 28 lifting the rear end of the bar 22 against the action of the spring 31. This will momentarily separate CJ the r llers l2 and 13. The lever bar 38 is immediately withdrawn to allow the rollers to again clamp the stock. In the illustrated form a brake 41 is provided at the end of the shaft for conventional operation of the roller feed 20.

I have thus provided a roller feed mounting in which the lifting action is accomplished by a pivoted lever which carries the upper roller hearing. The end blocks are no longer subject to wear since the upper roller hearing, which is movable, is not mounted in the end blocks. This permits much more rapid and easier construction of the end blocks 19 and quicker and easier assembly of the lower feed. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A roller feed for intermittently f eding strip stock to a stamping press comprising a pair of spaced vertical rectangular blocks and a horizontal cover member, each of said blocks having a pair of vertically spaced openings and a smaller opening adjacent the upper opening, a roller bearing in each lower opening, a shaft mounted in said roller bearings, a roller mounted on said shaft, an upper shaft extending loosely through said upper openings, an upper roller mounted on said upper shaft, means pivotally mounted in said smaller openings for holding said upper shaft, and means for resiliently retaining said upper roller in contact with said lower roller, said holding means having means for engaging a portion of a press for lifting said roller against the action of said retaining means.

2. A roller feed for intermittently feeding strip stock to a stamping press comprising a pair of spaced vertical rectangular blocks and a horizontal cover member, each of said blocks having a pair of vertically spaced openings and a smaller opening adjacent the upper opening, a roller bearing in each lower opening, a shaft mounted in said roller bearings, a roller mounted on said shaft, an upper shaft extending loosely through said upper openings, an upper roller mounted on said upper shaft, means pivotally mounted in said smaller openings for holding said upper shaft, and means for resiliently retaining said upper roller in contact with said lower roller, said holding means having means for engaging a portion of a press for lifting said upper roller against the action of said retaining means, said resilient retaining means comprising an adjustable coil spring bearing against said upper shaft holding means.

3. A roller feed for intermittently feeding strip stock to a stamping press comprising a pair of spaced vertical rectangular blocks and a horizontal cover member, each of said blocks having a pair of vertically spaced openings and a smaller opening adjacent the upper opening, a roller bearing in each lower opening, a shaft mounted in said roller bearings, a roller mounted on said shaft, an upper shaft extending loosely through said upper openings, an upper roller mounted on said upper shaft, means pivotally mounted in said smaller openings for holding said upper shaft, and means for resisiliently retaining said upper roller in contact with said lowerroller, said holding means having means for engaging a portion of a press for lifting said roller against the action of said retaining means, said shaft holding means including an elongated block at each end of said shaft, each block having a roller bearing, said upper shaft extending through said roller hearing, and a pivot pin extending through said block and into a bearing in said smaller opening.

4. A roller feed for intermittently feeding strip stock to a stamping press comprising a pair of spaced vertical rectangular blocks and a horizontal cover member, each of said blocks having a pair of vertically spaced openings and a smaller opening adjacent the upper opening, a roller bearing in each lower opening, a shaft mounted in said roller bearings, a roller mounted on said shaft, an upper shaft extending loosely through said upper openings, an upper roller mounted on said upper shaft, means pivotally mounted in said smaller openings for holding said upper shaft, and means for resiliently retaining said upper roller in contact with said lower roller, said holding means having means for engaging a portion of a press for lifting said roller against the action of said retaining means, said shaft holding means including an elongated block at each end of said shaft, each block having a roller bearing, said upper shaft extending through said roller bearing, and a pivot pin extending through said block and into a bearing in said smaller opening, said resilient retaining means comprising an adjustable spring bearing against each of said blocks.

5. A roller feed for intermittently feeding strip stock to a stamping press comprising a pair of spaced vertical rectangular blocks and a horizontal cover member, each of said blocks having a pair of vertically spaced openings and a smaller opening adjacent the upper opening, a roller bearing in each lower opening, a shaft mounted in said roller bearings, a roller mounted on said shaft, an upper shaft extending loosely through said upper openings, an upper roller mounted on said upper shaft, means pivotally mounted in said smaller openings for holding said upper shaft, and means for resiliently retaining said upper roller in contact with said lower roller, said holding means having means for engaging a portion of a press for lifting said roller against the action of said retaining means, said engaging means comprising a lever arm extending horizontally from said holding means, a shaft mounted between said lever arms, and an adjustable cam roller mounted on said shaft for engaging a portion of the press on the downward stroke thereof.

6. A roller feed for intermittently feeding strip stock to a stamping press comprising a pair of spaced vertical rectangular blocks and a horizontal cover member, each of said blocks having a pair of vertically spaced openings and a smaller opening adjacent the upper opening, a roller bearing in each lower opening, a shaft mounted in said roller bearings, a roller mounted on said shaft, an upper shaft extending loosely through said upper openings, an upper roller mounted on said upper shaft, means pivotally mounted in said smaller openings for holding said upper shaft, and means for resiliently retaining said upper in contact with said lower roller, said holding means having means for engaging a portion of a press for lifting said roller against the action of said retaining means, said engaging means comprising a lever arm extending horizontally from said holding means, a shaft mounted between said lever arms, and an adjustable cam roller mounted on said shaft for engaging a portion of the press on the downward stroke thereof, said resilient retaining means comprising an adjustable coil spring bearing against said upper shaft holding means.

7. A roller feed for intermittently feeding strip stock to a stamping press comprising a pair of spaced vertical rec tangular blocks and a horizontal cover member, each of said blocks having a pair of vertically spaced openings and a smaller opening adjacent the upper opening a roller bearing in each lower opening, a shaft mounted in said roller bearings, a roller mounted on said shaft, an upper shaft extending loosely through said upper openings, an upper roller mounted on said upper shaft, means pivotally mounted in said smaller openings for holding said upper shaft, and means for resiliently retaining said upper roller in contact with said lower roller, said holding means having means for engaging a portion of a press for lifting said roller against the action of said retaining means, said engaging means comprising a lever arm extending horizontally from said holding means, a shaft mounted between said lever arms, and an adjustment cam roller mounted on said shaft for engaging a portion of the press on the downward stroke thereof, said shaft holding means including an elongated block at each end of said shaft, each block having a roller bearing, said upper shaft extending through said roller bearing, and a pivot pin extending through said block and into a bearing in said smaller opening.

8. A roller feed for intermittently feeding strip stock to a stamping press comprising a pair of spaced vertical rectangular blocks and a horizontal cover member, each of said blocks having a pair of vertically spaced openings and a smaller opening adjacent the upper opening, a roller bearing in each lower opening, a shaft mounted in said roller bearings, a roller mounted on said shaft, an upper shaft extending loosely through said upper openings, an upper roller mounted on said upper shaft, means pivotally mounted in said smaller openings for holding said upper shaft, and means for resiliently retaining said upper ro-ller in contact with said lower roller, said holding means having means for engaging a portion of a press for lifting said roller against the action of said retaining means, said engaging means comprising a lever arm extending horizontally from said holding means, a shaft mounted between said lever arms, and an adjustable cam roller mounted on said shaft for engaging a portion of the press on the downward stroke thereof, said shaft holding means including an elongated block at each end of said shaft, each block having a roller bearing, said upper shaft extending through said roller bearing, and a pivot pin extending through said block and into a bearing in said smaller opening, said resilient retaining means comprising an adjustable spring bearing against each of said blocks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 835,963 Grant Nov. 13, 1906 992,146 Barker et a1 May 16, 1911 1,452,466 Kelly Apr. 17, 1923 2,104,630 Zahn Jan. 4, 1938 2,192,414 Reed Mar. 5, 1940 2,362,736 Weiss Nov. 14, 1944 2,599,442 Essx et a1. June 3, 1952 2.974.951 Wilson et a1 Mar. 14. 1961 

